Small Woman Big Dream to Race Internationally
Donation protected
At only 158cms tall, the #LittleGirlfromSouthAfrica, 28 year old Taye Perry almost broke the Internet during the Dakar Rally 2020 in Saudi Arabia where she caught the World’s attention, hearts and imagination after a nightmare 18 hour Stage 11 and in doing so, Taye inspired young and old, women and men alike, to #nevergiveup.
Starting in 49th place overall and 3rd Lady overall on stage 11, and this, in her first #DakarRally, South Africa’s #DesertRose took a small tumble in the deserted dunes of the Empty Quarter and high drama followed!
“Taye picked up her bike, hit the starter and the motor just swings; it will not start. Her #NomadeRacingAssistance team-mate Olivier Pain and a second rider, Craig Keyworth, stop to help, dragging Taye to a safer spot in the dunes. Trial and error, they switch fuel tanks and try again. Nothing! Strip the bike, search, check the wiring. Again, nothing. Eventually, with hours elapsing, the battery just can’t turn the high compression single over any more. A crying, praying and desperately disappointed Taye is facing the reality that her race is run. Time and hope start fading. She has over 200 km’s to go through dunes and then still to the bivouac. She stands forlornly, tow rope in hand, hoping against hope that one of the few remaining competitors still behind her, may, just may, be prepared to tow her through the stage. Miraculously a car stops. Taye gets towed, sometimes after falling, dragged, over a hundred kilometres to the end of the stage and then 300 kms back to the Bivouac. The #trueDakarSpirit is evident as her #DakarHeroes, Facundo and Pablo will not let Taye’s Dakar Dream end in a forlorn spot in the desert of Saudi Arabia.
After eighteen hours of physical and mental torment of the highest order, she returns to her team bivouac. The World watched in awe as she pushed her beast of a KTM 450 Rally Replica over the last 200 metres to Race Control and mercifully, the end of the Stage. No mean feat when you only weigh in at 58kgs, are one of, if not the smallest Competitors at 158ms tall and your bike weighs 180kgs… this after racing, falling, being dragged and towed for hundreds of kilometres for nearly 18 hours after the Stage started earlier that day. On arrival back at the Bivouac, Taye still has a smile on her tiny face and a laugh in her voice - everyone is once again touched by Tayes’ humble and effervescent personality. Her grit, fierce determination and #nevergiveup attitude is revered by all who witnessed this incredible effort by Taye, dubbed #theIronLady by the Dakar Rally.
A few hours later, with a little faulty fuel switch replaced, she gets to the start of the final stage after perhaps two hours of sleep, races an epic last stage and against all odds, finishes the Dakar Rally 2020 in fine style.”
Taye is not only a lovely human being but is also a remarkable athlete who competed in the Dakar Rally 2020 as a Privateer. Her Parents literally moved heaven and earth to get #TayetoDakar. Her Father sold his Business. Her Parents sacrificed everything for Taye who had very little Sponsorship and only a handful of good people who assisted her financially for which she is eternally grateful. But she did it – she is a true Dakar Rally Champion!
Having taken everything that the Dakar Rally could hurl at her, the ever-smiling, always-bubbly Taye has set her hopes and dreams on hopefully competing in both International and local Cross Country Rally’s as she prepares for Dakar 2021 again, as a Privateer. But I cannot do this without your help.
International Rally Racing is not just one of the toughest, most demanding and dangerous motorsport disciplines on the planet, it is also very expensive. Here’s a breakdown of some of the main fees involved: the Dakar alone costs upwards of 19,000 EURO in entry, safety and tracking fees alone, with deadlines approaching fast. Then there’s the motorcycle Taye trusts her life to for over 8000km, a 180kg 450cc specially built machine, which costs 27,000 EURO. And the Dakar cannot be properly raced without an experienced assistance team behind her all the way, which costs close to 20,000 EURO as well. Then of course, there are the rallies before Dakar, where Taye will compete and gain the experience she needs to unleash her full potential at Dakar 2021. Taye has big plans to take the leading women of Rally Racing in the months and years to come.
If you would like to become a donor and join Taye on her incredible journey as she starts her International Cross Country Rally Career, and help get #TayetoDakar, please may I ask you to donate whatever you are able. Fundraising is never easy but #TeamPerry are so excited for 2020 and with Tayes’ inspirational story, we will #nevergiveup!
Thank you for reading my plea and if this has touched you, I look so forward to thanking you for helping me as we all help write the next chapter in the Taye Perry story!
Stephie Vetter-Baragwanath
for Taye Perry
*quoted section courtesy of Dave Cilliers
Starting in 49th place overall and 3rd Lady overall on stage 11, and this, in her first #DakarRally, South Africa’s #DesertRose took a small tumble in the deserted dunes of the Empty Quarter and high drama followed!
“Taye picked up her bike, hit the starter and the motor just swings; it will not start. Her #NomadeRacingAssistance team-mate Olivier Pain and a second rider, Craig Keyworth, stop to help, dragging Taye to a safer spot in the dunes. Trial and error, they switch fuel tanks and try again. Nothing! Strip the bike, search, check the wiring. Again, nothing. Eventually, with hours elapsing, the battery just can’t turn the high compression single over any more. A crying, praying and desperately disappointed Taye is facing the reality that her race is run. Time and hope start fading. She has over 200 km’s to go through dunes and then still to the bivouac. She stands forlornly, tow rope in hand, hoping against hope that one of the few remaining competitors still behind her, may, just may, be prepared to tow her through the stage. Miraculously a car stops. Taye gets towed, sometimes after falling, dragged, over a hundred kilometres to the end of the stage and then 300 kms back to the Bivouac. The #trueDakarSpirit is evident as her #DakarHeroes, Facundo and Pablo will not let Taye’s Dakar Dream end in a forlorn spot in the desert of Saudi Arabia.
After eighteen hours of physical and mental torment of the highest order, she returns to her team bivouac. The World watched in awe as she pushed her beast of a KTM 450 Rally Replica over the last 200 metres to Race Control and mercifully, the end of the Stage. No mean feat when you only weigh in at 58kgs, are one of, if not the smallest Competitors at 158ms tall and your bike weighs 180kgs… this after racing, falling, being dragged and towed for hundreds of kilometres for nearly 18 hours after the Stage started earlier that day. On arrival back at the Bivouac, Taye still has a smile on her tiny face and a laugh in her voice - everyone is once again touched by Tayes’ humble and effervescent personality. Her grit, fierce determination and #nevergiveup attitude is revered by all who witnessed this incredible effort by Taye, dubbed #theIronLady by the Dakar Rally. A few hours later, with a little faulty fuel switch replaced, she gets to the start of the final stage after perhaps two hours of sleep, races an epic last stage and against all odds, finishes the Dakar Rally 2020 in fine style.”
Taye is not only a lovely human being but is also a remarkable athlete who competed in the Dakar Rally 2020 as a Privateer. Her Parents literally moved heaven and earth to get #TayetoDakar. Her Father sold his Business. Her Parents sacrificed everything for Taye who had very little Sponsorship and only a handful of good people who assisted her financially for which she is eternally grateful. But she did it – she is a true Dakar Rally Champion!
Having taken everything that the Dakar Rally could hurl at her, the ever-smiling, always-bubbly Taye has set her hopes and dreams on hopefully competing in both International and local Cross Country Rally’s as she prepares for Dakar 2021 again, as a Privateer. But I cannot do this without your help.
International Rally Racing is not just one of the toughest, most demanding and dangerous motorsport disciplines on the planet, it is also very expensive. Here’s a breakdown of some of the main fees involved: the Dakar alone costs upwards of 19,000 EURO in entry, safety and tracking fees alone, with deadlines approaching fast. Then there’s the motorcycle Taye trusts her life to for over 8000km, a 180kg 450cc specially built machine, which costs 27,000 EURO. And the Dakar cannot be properly raced without an experienced assistance team behind her all the way, which costs close to 20,000 EURO as well. Then of course, there are the rallies before Dakar, where Taye will compete and gain the experience she needs to unleash her full potential at Dakar 2021. Taye has big plans to take the leading women of Rally Racing in the months and years to come.If you would like to become a donor and join Taye on her incredible journey as she starts her International Cross Country Rally Career, and help get #TayetoDakar, please may I ask you to donate whatever you are able. Fundraising is never easy but #TeamPerry are so excited for 2020 and with Tayes’ inspirational story, we will #nevergiveup!
Thank you for reading my plea and if this has touched you, I look so forward to thanking you for helping me as we all help write the next chapter in the Taye Perry story!
Stephie Vetter-Baragwanath for Taye Perry
*quoted section courtesy of Dave Cilliers
Organizer and beneficiary
Calheine Perry
Organizer
Nuremberg
Calheine Taye Perry
Beneficiary
